DHAKA, Dec 12, 2020 (BSS) – Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque today said COVID-19 situation in Bangladesh is under control as the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sincerely dealing with the pandemic.
“When almost the entire world is struggling to control coronavirus
situation, Bangladesh has been able to contain the outbreak of the deadly
virus,” he told a seminar titled “Universal Health Coverage Day” organized Health Economic Unit of the Health Ministry in a city hotel, an official release said.
Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr
Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam and representatives of other relevant organizations, among others, addressed the function with Director General of Health Economic Unit Dr Md Shahdat Hossain in the chair.
Maleque said after the detection of coronavirus cases in Bangladesh, the government has taken massive initiatives including increasing financial allocation to halt the outbreak of the deadly virus.
“We have recruited physicians, nurses, medical technologists on an urgent basis to improve healthcare system in the country… alongside recruitment of adequate number of manpower, the government installed modern and updated version of equipment in COVID-19 dedicated hospitals to deal with the pandemic,” he added.
The government has made healthcare facilities free for COVID-19 patients in public-run hospitals, he said adding, the government has spent Taka four lakh for each patient at ICU bed while Taka 1.30 lakh for each patient at general bed.
The minister said the government has increased bed capacity for COVID-19 patients to provide necessary medical services to protect them from the killer disease.
“We have widened testing facilities at the quickest possible time to detect the coronavirus positive cases….Now the number of testing lab stands at 140 while the government has installed central oxygen system in 59 public hospitals to treat the COVID-19 patients,” he added.
Maleque said Bangladesh witnessed lower COVID-19 fatality rate as the government has taken multiple preventive measures to deal with the pandemic.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been lauded globally as her government is effectively handling the coronavirus with 1.44 percent death rate from the
deadly disease, he added.
Maleque said Bangladesh is keeping close contact with those companies, which are at final stage of COVID-19 vaccine development.
“Many countries are working frantically for COVID-19 vaccine development campaign… But nine companies are at final stage in the race of vaccine development. We are keeping constant communication with five companies to get effective vaccines at the quickest possible time,” he added.
The health ministry sources said the government has taken all necessary preparations including financial capabilities to collect effective and safe vaccine soon after COVID-19 vaccine development by any company in the world.